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Re: Antipodean Boats Connection

That's a 50' cat that's been picked up out of the water on one side of a marina dock, and dumped upside down in the water on the other side, if the news is to be believed. So far this winter, pretty much the whole country, except Christchurch, has been hammered by one storm or another.

Re: Antipodean Boats Connection

Originally Posted by WX

The yacht was Celeste and it was Deb and Justin.

Right that’s them .Fast little boat throughout the course I only managed to beat them to the first mark once.and we soon gave up that advantage with a spinnaker launch that wasn’t quite as schmick as when I was racing my old Blazer 23 at the SYC Holywell.

Re: Antipodean Boats Connection

Originally Posted by auscruisertom

Right that’s them .Fast little boat throughout the course I only managed to beat them to the first mark once.and we soon gave up that advantage with a spinnaker launch that wasn’t quite as schmick as when I was racing my old Blazer 23 at the SYC Holywell.

They have a house on the community next door to us.

​"Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect." Irrfan Khan. RIP

Re: Antipodean Boats Connection

I made some brackets for the exhaust hose, which has an external diameter of about 72mm. I got a metal tube of about that diameter and laid it on a board. I then added a couple of strips of 45 degree timber and laid them along the tube to close the gap between the sides of the tube and the board. I then covered the whole thing in packing tape. Then I glassed over the whole thing with 8 layers of double-bias glass and exoxy and put peel ply over that. I clamped the flats (the bases of the brackets) down with strips of timber wrapped in packing tape.

The cured glass breaks away from the packing tape fairly easily. You then end up with a long bracket shaped thing which can be cut into separate brackets. I made 5.

I did the same thing to make some brackets for a smaller hose for a 38mm bilge pump.

The emergency bilge pump is located in the lazarette now but is operated from the back of the cockpit. The hose runs from the lazarette, through a bulkhead into the engine bay, under the engine, through another bulkhead/floor and into the bilge well under the cabin. The problem with that is that there are already several holes through that floor and i'm not keen to drill another big one for 38mm hose. So, as an alternative, I'm going to use a Y-connector (Trudesign 25-25-38) to split the hose into two smaller hoses before it goes through the floor and run them both into the bilge well. I'll be able to utilise existing holes to do that. I guess it also has the advantage that if one hose gets blocked, the pump should still work, and it won't let anything through that's big enough to block the pump.

I'm also in the middle of installing the second fuel tank in the lazarette. Well, it was going to be the second tank but I've decided that it'll become the only tank. The old tank is under the cabin sole and I've decided to remove it and use the space for other things, like a fridge, perhaps. I've never really liked fuel in the cabin. The new tank is 88 litres and I'll have a deck filler. With a few extra cans for trips, I think 88 litres will be plenty. The old tank is about 60. I haven't removed it yet. I want to complete the new installation before I remove it.

Re: Antipodean Boats Connection

We had 100 litres to cross the Tasman. I can carry about 100 litres in cans if I have to. Keeping a lot of diesel for a long time on a boat really isn't great. The fuel goes off - picks up moisture and fungus - sy stuff. Tanks should really be kept quite full so, for me, it's better to have a fairly small tank. Not that 88 litres is all that small for a yacht .....

I'm really happy with the fibreglass brackets I've been making. I started making angle brackets to install stuff in the house. They're easy to make by just wrapping a bit of 4x2 in packing tape and glassing that. Wrapping it in peel ply then gives you a really neat job. Then just rip the whole thing through with a saw and you have four lengths of fibreglass angle. If they need to be stiff and strong, just use more glass.

Our friend David is building a 25' trailerable power boat from foam and glass. He's going to put the whole interior together - floors, bulkheads, lockers, cupboards etc. with fibreglass angle made this way. The local boatbuilders who make Caraboats, catamarans etc., they also put pretty much everything together in this way. No fasteners - just fibreglass angle and glue.

I only really needed the round brackets for hose in the lazarette and engine bay so I didn't worry much about getting a neat job - as they're not very popular places with visitors. But the brackets are neat enough and certainly strong. It took about an hour to make the 5 exhaust hose brackets and, I guess, about $10 or less in materials.

I'll take some photos. I thought about taking some when I was doing it but I was rushing a bit so didn't. Next time! So, the photos will be the brackets already installed.

Re: Antipodean Boats Connection

Why would I use collapsible fuel tanks? I'd need to build a container for each one, they cost the same or more and solid tanks are a lot easier to monitor and maintain. I can see the value for some boats with awkward spaces but not ours. And can you imagine trying to fill one of those things in a seaway? It's hard enough topping up a solid tank at sea!

I'm going to use a Y-connector (Trudesign 25-25-38) to split the hose into two smaller hoses before it goes through the floor and run them both into the bilge well. I'll be able to utilise existing holes to do that. I guess it also has the advantage that if one hose gets blocked, the pump should still work, and it won't let anything through that's big enough to block the pump.

Is there a danger that if one hose isn't submerged the pump will prefer to suck air over water? But I suppose if they both run to the same spot then it's quits.

Hi Antipodeans. Long time no read or write, just been working hard over here. We're off on Saturday, first leg Botany Bay to America Bay in Broken Bay. Sheltering from Northerlies and keepinf an eye on the wind to reach Port Stephens next week.

Antipodean Boats Connection

Originally Posted by JorgeR

Hi Antipodeans. Long time no read or write, just been working hard over here. We're off on Saturday, first leg Botany Bay to America Bay in Broken Bay. Sheltering from Northerlies and keepinf an eye on the wind to reach Port Stephens next week.

Any advice?

Cheers

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hola! Kia Ora!

I haven't been to America Bay but it looks sheltered.

Hopefully Rick will advise about Port Stephens. There are lots of places in that harbour to explore. I've stayed near Nelson Bay on a public mooring, Tanilba Bay on a private mooring after getting permission, and at Lemon Tree Passage marina. All of those places highly recommended.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When I first joined WBF they made me write a book to prove I was a real yachty. I was so gullible.

Re: Antipodean Boats Connection

Originally Posted by JorgeR

Hi Antipodeans. Long time no read or write, just been working hard over here. We're off on Saturday, first leg Botany Bay to America Bay in Broken Bay. Sheltering from Northerlies and keepinf an eye on the wind to reach Port Stephens next week.

Any advice?

Cheers

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Jorge
How long do you intend to stay in Pt Stephens? Is there something in particular you want to see or do here?

Study your chart carefully before approaching Port Stephens. Stay well clear of Stockton Bight and stay well out from the shore until you're able to turn directly into the Port. Once through the heads, stay close to the southern shore and follow the channel markers. There's very shallow water just a few hundred metres inside the Port.

Re: Antipodean Boats Connection

At this time of year the southerly current can be quite strong 3 - 4 knots and you'll be heading straight into it. Boats tend to stay close to the coast to avoid the stronger flow but don't stay close in Stockton Bight or near the headlands south of Port Stephens. Plan a slow trip because the current will reduce your speed significantly.